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Good news from that other opera company

Milwaukee's Florentine Opera will soon open the Wayne and Kristine Lueders Opera Center in Riverwest.

The center, at 926 E. Burleigh St., is a hop and a skip from the Art Bar, Alterra Coffee and the new Bliffert Hardware in this revitalizing corner of artistically hip Riverwest. The 4,000 sq. ft. space will house coaching studios, practice rooms, design offices, and wig and costume shops. It will be the home of the company's well-established youth education programs and for its new adult education initiatives.

A donor has supplied a Steinway grand piano.The facility will have a rehearsal space with a sprung floor for dancing. William Florescu, the company's general director, said that he plans to put on recitals and other Florentine events there. It will be also be available for rental -- at modest rates, according to Florescu -- for rehearsals and small performances. It will accommodate an audience of about 100. The sprung floor and low cost should make it especially appealing to dance groups.

The Lueders made the lead donation for the space, which is owned by board members Catherine and Mario Costantini. The Florentine will occupy it under a long-term lease. Florescu said that it will be revenue-neutral for the Florentine, because it has been renting space elsewhere for the functions to be brought together in Riverwest and because rental income will offset expenses.

The space is in an attractive Cream City brick building in front of the Costantini's furniture factory. It formerly housed Elements East furniture. Crews are working on it now and should finish by August. As soon as it's renovated, the Florentine will host an open house to introduce it to other area arts groups.